How to Clean Old Quarry Tile Floors

Basic Cleaning

1). Sweep the floor thoroughly. Removing any loose dust, dirt or debris will make it easier to clean your quarry tile floor in a single mopping.
2). Fill the mop bucket with warm water.
3). Mop the floor thoroughly with water only. Let the floor dry.
4). Inspect the floor to see if there are any remaining stains or dirt spots that were not removed. If additional cleaning is needed, proceed to Step 5. If you clean with warm water regularly, you won't normally need to do additional cleaning and your floors will stay in better shape longer.
5). Fill the mop bucket with warm water and about one cup of white vinegar.
6). Mop the floor with the water and vinegar solution and let it dry. If your old quarry tile floor still looks dirty or dull, you may need to remove the

1). Mix wax stripper with water in a mop bucket, according to manufacturer's directions. Be sure that the wax stripper is made for use on quarry tile floors.
2). Apply the wax stripper mixture with an old mop or sponge. Let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes, or the length of time specified on the package.
3). Scrub away the old wax with a stiff-bristled scrub brush.
4). Fill the mop bucket with clean warm water.
5). Mop away the old wax and wax stripper using the clean water. Repeat this process until all of the wax and stripper have been removed.
6). Pour wax on to the floor, or into a clean mop bucket, depending on manufacturer's instructions.
7). Spread the wax evenly over the floor, using a clean or well-rinsed mop. Let the wax dry for at least 30 minutes.
8). Apply additional coats of wax as desired. The more coats of wax applied, the shinier the floor will become, but more coats also take additional effort to strip. Most old quarry tile floors will take on a nice shine with only two or three coats of wax.